6
in other words
july24
2012
Diggin in the Dirt: Don’t Feed the Animals
By Chip Bubl
Oregon State University Extension
Service – Columbia County
2012 Summer Food Preservation
Classes
Back by popular demand are
our OSU Extension summer food
preservation classes taught by Jenny
Rudolph. This series of classes is great
for both the beginner and the experienced
canner. Classes will be held in St. Helens
at the First Lutheran Church on 360
Wyeth Street (the corner of North 4th
and Wyeth). Class size is limited to allow
for hands-on involvement in the kitchen:
There are still two classes available:
August 8th, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Pressure
Canning Vegetables and Meats; and
August 22nd, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. –
Canning Pickles, Tomatoes and Salsas.
Cost to attend is $20 per class.
A small number of scholarships are
available. Payment must be made in
advance to hold your spot. Contact the
OSU Extension Service – Columbia
County office at 503- 397-3462 to
register.
Harvesting garlic
July is garlic month. Generally,
garlic is ready to harvest in the second
week of July. But the cool weather in
April/May seems to have pushed the
garlic back a little bit. Garlic doesn’t
have to be brown before harvest. Often,
the garlic will have green tops at the best
“skin” stage for harvest. That is not a
problem.
How can you tell if the garlic
is ripe? Look at a well-formed bulb
and pull it apart. Count the number of
“skins” to the outermost set of cloves. If
there are three or less skins, harvest right
away. The skins help to keep the garlic
dormant during winter storage and also
make the bulb look more attractive. Be
sure to eat the garlic you have examined
(of course!).
If you continue to water garlic
or we get a lot of rain, you can quickly
lose all the skins. You can also increase
storage disease. So harvest in advance of
any significant rain at this stage.
When you harvest the bulbs,
tie the tops into bundles and hang the
bulbs from rafters in your garage or barn
or place them on a screen so that they
have good air circulation while they are
curing. They shouldn’t be exposed to the
direct sun.
You can eat the garlic at any
time and it is ready for winter storage
after thirty days.
Blossom end rot of tomatoes
It is finally warm enough to push
tomatoes (even in Vernonia), so it is time
for the annual review of blossom end rot.
This is a poorly named problem in one
respect – it is not a disease but rather
a nutritional disorder. The symptoms
are dark, leathery sunken spots on the
bottom of your rapidly ripening tomatoes
or peppers or zucchini. What misery!
Blossom end rot results from a
shortage of calcium in growing fruits.
Practically speaking, however, the cause
is usually inadequate irrigation. Soil
moisture is essential for roots to absorb
and move calcium through the plant.
To avoid blossom end rot:
• Keep your tomato bed well limed to
keep the soil calcium level up.
•
Keep plants evenly watered so
calcium will be available.
• Use an organic mulch to help keep
soil evenly moist. Great fluctuations
in soil moisture seem to aggravate the
problem.
• Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilization.
• Trap moles, whose tunnels may make
even watering impossible.
Pinch out some of the excess
shoots, since shoots and fruit compete
for calcium within the plant. The shoots
capture much of the calcium, leaving
the fruits short leading to that brown
patch on the bottom (calcium poor cells
that break open). Avoid pinching during
very hot weather since you can expose
fruits to more sunlight that can lead to
sunburned fruits.
Don’t feed raccoons or other wild
animals
Feeding raccoons or other
wild animals can lead to lots of
problems. Feeding can be intentional,
accomplished by leaving dog or cat
food free-choice outside, or having poor
garbage can, compost bin, or bird feeder
management. All are big mistakes. I have
known a number of individuals who let
their animal compassion get in the way
of good sense with awful results. Here
are some reasons why close proximity
can be a problem:
• The animals (raccoons, rats, squirrels,
opossums, et al) may decide your house
is a good place to live in. Cat and doggie
doors are soooo fun!!
•
Many species can carry serious
diseases harmful to your pets or you.
• Some animals are very aggressive,
especially when the food doesn’t show
up on schedule. Children specially need
to be warned about possible danger.
• Rats, mice and squirrels like to chew
through electric wiring. They don’t
belong inside houses.
Take your extra fruit and vegetables
to the Food Bank. What you can offer
is really important.
The Extension Service offers its
programs and materials equally to all
people.
Free newsletter
The Oregon State University
Extension office in Columbia County
publishes a monthly newsletter on
gardening and farming topics (called
County Living) written/edited by yours
truly. All you need to do is ask for it and
it will be mailed to you. Call 503 397-
3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively,
you can find it on the web at
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/
columbia/ and click on newsletters.
Contact information for the Extension
office
Oregon State University Extension
Service – Columbia County
505 N. Columbia River Highway (across
from the Legacy clinic)
St. Helens, OR 97051
503-397-3462
Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu
Flamingos Flock Back to Vernonia
START RIGHT. START HERE. SM
Summer is here!
Camping Supplies • BBQs
Spa Chemicals • Sporting Goods
Coolers • Fishing Supplies
Summer Games & Toys
Family owned & operated for over 40 years
834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364
FOR TOWING EMERGENCIES
IN AND AROUND THE
VERNONIA AREA
Boy Scout Troop 201 announces the annual return of the flamingo Flocks to
Vernonia. The flocks have started their rounds and will conclude their visits in the
later part of August 2012. The flocks will be delivered at night and the senders
anonymity protected. This is a fundraiser for Boy Scout Camp and donations are
welcome. For questions or to order a flock to be sent to a person or family of your
choice please contact Tera Roberts at 503-429-6006.
Vernonia Ridgeriders Schedule of Events
AUG 4 th SATURDAY
Jamboree Parade
Staging at Anderson Park Arena
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
AUG 5 th SUNDAY
Vernonia Ridgeriders Jamboree Playday
9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Signup at 9:00 AM
Gaming starts at 11:00 AM
SEPT 15 th SATURDAY
Vernonia Ridgerider Playday
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Signup at 10:00 AM
Events start at 11:00AM
For more information contact Deloris
Bellingham @ 503-895-0553 or go to
the vernoniaridgeriders.com website
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
Small and Large Animals
Polife and County personnel are required
to use a rotation of available provfiders,
UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK
for a servife by name.
REQUEST TOWING SERVICE FROM
Now Open
Mon, Wed & Saturday
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Call for Appointments
(503) 429-1612
Shop Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 - 6:00
Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470
700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR